Summary of Wade Phillips' press conference today.
We're looking forward to game, feel like we did last week, this is the most important game. The guys are looking forward to it. We got things to work on but they practiced well, they look focused.
Felix Jones was limited in practice, we'll see. I don't know about him playing on Sunday, not a good feel yet if he would or wouldn't, other things (injuries?) came up during rehab, we're working on those, too. (Might you sit him out until after the Thanksgiving game?) All things are possible, depending on what he can do. The other things were not knee-related.
Isaiah Stanback came back and practiced today, he'd be the fourth WR, he looked healthy and ready to go. We'll use him on kickoff returns. We've been playing with four WR's every game, we'll probably stick with that.
T.O. was sick today, he had flu-like symptoms, he came in but we sent him home, we hope he's better tomorrow.
Tony Romo looked fine. He wants to get the splint off, but it's not time yet, but he's close. He may not have to wear it in the game. He threw the ball pretty well in the game, I don't think it bothered him much to where it was a concern. He made all the throws in practice, deep, sidelines, he did the same in the game. The wind was a factor in one direction when it was gusting. So that played a part on deep passes, we played our DB's tighter because of that, too.
Even in zone we played up more than we would normally, conditions of the game make you play differently. My corners, the ones we have now, yes I want them to play up. It depends on who you have out there, I've done both (up or back). Jammer at SD played up all the time in zone or man, different techniques with different players based on what they can do. There's no feel involved on their part, they do what we say, we tell them whether to play up or jam them or whatever. We consider what they can do and what the receiver can do. If you play up it makes the QB hold the ball longer or go to another receiver. When I was in Buffalo we played a lot of man but we had corners that could, we thought we could here but we got injuries last year and this year.
They got Frank Gore back there, he's their leading receiver and running back, that's the guy we got to stop, he's the key guy. (Mike Singletary's influence since taking over?) They have run the ball more, seemed like they did, they scored 35 points in a half last game, that was different, it was impressive. They played well last week, that helps you confidence-wise just like winning last week helped our confidence.
Shaun Hill has done a good job, only 4 sacks in 3 games, pressure will be important and coverage, but you got to stop the running game first. They got a Pro Bowl-caliber back that can run, block, and catch. Maybe a little like Steven Jackson of the Rams.
Felix the Cat returns to practice.
Felix Jones is practicing today for the first time since partially tearing his hamstring in the Oct. 12 loss to the Cardinals.We'll get more from Wade Phillips this afternoon, but this is obviously a great sign that Jones will play Sunday against San Francisco.
Yessir.
The 2014 Final Four will be played in the new Cowboy stadium.
How cool is that?
Cowboys roundup and much more after the jump.
I decided to jump into the posting rotation again after a two day absence. Working on an outside-the-blog project stole all my time but it's now finished. And unlike Chunky McNabb, I knew there was a deadline. Anyway, my absence was hardly missed as Rafael, Raul and Brandon were just killing it on Monday and Tuesday, with post after post. I love this blog merger.
Make the jump for some blog news and Pacman discussion.
According the Todd Archer at the Dallas Morning News, Cowboys receiver Miles Austin suffered a sprained lateral collateral ligament in Sunday night's victory over the Washington Redskins.
The injury could sideline the receiver/kick returner for up to four weeks.
With the blog merger in full effect we shattered the game day open thread record in all categories. Thanks for the participation everybody!! It's you guys that really make this blog the greatest place to go for Cowboys news and talk. Below is a list of all participants and the Top-10 commenters from Sunday night with number of comments.
Total Users: 117
Total Posts: 3286
Total Threads: 5Roll Call: Nelson..., TrueBlue24, Terry, Tristan, 5Blings, ManTab, mhuff13, Keys80, DieSlowKeyshawn, stephena, Mullin, cowboy78, Mandmeisterx, strobman, Philosopher, DavidH22, buckets, Billito, desus32, quincyyyyy, Urinal Mint, kindablue, Deke, scottmaui, silverblue5, jkdallas, Elwood62, Cowboy Louie, Tuna Helper, Musiccitynorm, ender0887, DalaiLuke, Brandon W, TLCM, GloryDayz88, accidental innuendo, NateMac, no1cowboysfan, DC_fan, MdFan24, nerfinator38, kameleon_o, Scoobay, Pete222, Longhorn, Cavazos, Rafael Vela, Beasticon, Boyzfan94, torchindefenses, Colorblind, Parl, philkid3, Conjunction, ChrisRichey, bryangene, SSreporters, DooSTan, staubachfan, thejanusman, texnykazrus, FearRomo, Dave Halprin (Grizz), cdiede, CowboysR4Real, BigDinSC, BLUE_Thru-n-Thru, Wharter, mahuebel, mistermojo, cwby4lf, TacoKid, AJA, Blammo, sublimezg, dlthibo, agapaw, Loozeeana_Cowboy, LouieTheLip, TARHEEL PAUL, thirdcoastnole, Realist Larry, awillis111, Phildo, albyman32, Barrett14, djalap, Helene, APerfectStar, Benthere, JimmyJohnson, SB2008, Victor79, Kevdog, CounterEMF, slash, juniorb, stxshooter, htown cowboy fan, Kansas Cowboy, iCowboy, carsondude, KDP, cowboymikemc, Burt88, baylor, clpark, cowboyz4ever, BVandy, witten82, hinduplaya, MadMick, G-money, Captain Fubar, cowboysuberfan, Raul Villaronga, GhettoBear04
Top Ten:
DieSlowKeyshawn - 272
mhuff13 - 155
TrueBlue24 - 141
Mullin - 134
Mandmeisterx - 125
kameleon_o - 118
Philosopher - 113
Brandon W - 106
Buckets - 106
Nelson... - 102
This just in!
The Cowboys still beat the Redskins 14-10! Never gets old does it? Join me then for an ice-cold, schadenfreude six-pack, Redskins' flavor:
"There was a silence inside FedEx Field last night. It was the kind of silence 90,830 people can make when the euphoria drains from the season and a hated rival is running off the field with arms raised, shouting into the evening chill.
Your number for the day: 9
No, not Tony Romo's number, though it is. It's the number of tackles the defensive line generated Sunday night, a record in recent games.
Maybe getting kicked in the head so many times finally got on their nerves? Maybe it took ten weeks for Todd Grantham's coaching to finally take? Whatever the case, the defensive linemen as a group had their best game of the year. Jay Ratliff was his menacing self, notching five solo tackles and two sacks. You wonder what his numbers would be if he could play DE in this scheme all the time and get away from the interior line congestion?
Welcome to the Tuesday edition of "What They're Saying", where things are a bit more enthusiastic than they have been in the past month or so.
The greatest thing of all about hearing and reading what the players had to say after the win is that it feels like they finally got it. The sense of urgency was there, the aggression, the intensity and the execution that was sorely lacking the past 6 weeks. After the game, players acknowledged that this was a big step in the right direction but that the journey is far from over. For this thing to get fully turned around the team needs this kind of effort every single week because the road only gets tougher from here on out.
The big story headed into the game was game was the return of Tony Romo. While it wasn't his flashiest performance, the most important thing was that Romo found that love for the game again.
"I was excited," he said, an observation he couldn't make often this season. "I think it was fun to get back out there and play, and it gave me a chance to miss the game quite a bit. "It's so much fun." Follow the jump for much, much more.
Wade Phillips opened his Monday press conference mentioning that while everybody made big plays in the game, what stood out is how many guys contributed to the win, and then proceeded a role call of players ... Canty, Tank, Bowen, Scandrick, Jenkins, Roy E, Bennett, Newman, Ratliff, Ware "he always plays well" was his quote) James, Kosier, Davis, Barber ... a real team effort.
Tony started out rusty but played an efficient game. He affects the attitudes of the other players - this team believes in him. His quarterback rating in the 4th quarter was 147.9.
Early in the game, with Washington facing a 1st and 10 at the Dallas 20, Wade Phillips called a special package, in an attempt to break the Redskins' rhythm. After lining up in their base 3-4, DEs Marcus Spears and Chris Canty slid inside, facing up to the Washington guards. At the same time, Bradie James walked from his inside linebacker position to a spot on the line of scrimmage inside of SOLB Greg Ellis.
In an instant, the Cowboys had moved from their "Phillips 3-4," with speed and gap control, into Buddy Ryan's old "46" scheme, which terrorized defenses in the mid '80s and early '90s. Ryan called it for the '85 Bears, who are considered one of the best defense ever. He built another fearsome version in Philadelphia, with Reggie White anchoring a stellar unit.
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